The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Flin Flon Bombers played their final exhibition game on Saturday night, beating the Nipawin Hawks 3-2 at the Whitney Forum. After starting the exhibition season with a 1-6 record, the Bombers have won their last two games, improving to 3-6, but more importantly, setting the team on the winning road as they prepare for the season opener in La Ronge this Friday. The key to the last two victories has been the improved play of the veterans. Derek Blais and Stuart Sjoberg handled the offence for the Bombers, while Brett Koscielny took care of business between the pipes, in his first action since a hand injury took him out of the game against OCN on September 3. The Bombers led 3-0 after the first period. Stuart Sjoberg gave the Bombers a 1-0 lead at 4:49, with Craig Parks assisting. Derek Blais netted his fourth goal in three games at 6:47 from Sjoberg and Derek Gallagher. It was a short handed marker. Sjoberg's second of the game at 9:56 was unassisted, and would hold up to be the eventual game-winning goal. Nipawin goaltender Sean McConnell settled down in the second and third periods, shutting the door for the rest of the way. The Bombers played just good enough to win, as Nipawin would add one goal in the second period and one more in the third. Devin Moore scored from Ryan Cruse and Sean McConnell at 2:45 of the second period, and Corey Baldwin scored a power-play goal at 9:23 of the third period from Kevin LaValley and Jaydyn Murray to bring the Hawks within one goal of the Bombers. That was as close as they would get. The Bombers out shot the Hawks 40-27. Flin Flon will have the rest of the week to prepare for the La Ronge Ice Wolves when the season opens on September 19, in La Ronge. They will return home to complete the home-and-home series with the Wolves on September 20.
